Stitches Africa Debuts with $50M Funding to Empower African Tailors

Stitches Africa, a new AI-powered fashion platform, has officially launched to connect African designers and tailors with global customers, particularly those in the diaspora seeking authentic African wear.

The company, which also announced a US$50 million financing program led by JF Advisory Group, aims to redefine access to authentic African fashion and elevate local creators onto the global stage.

The financing, with Cedrus Trustees Limited as Custodian and Transaction Trustee, will fund market expansion, production financing for tailors, logistics infrastructure, and technology upgrades to scale Stitches Africa’s operations worldwide.

Speaking at a press conference marking the launch on the platform on Friday, Franklin Peters, co-founder and managing director of Stitches Africa, described the platform as a game-changer for the continent’s fashion industry.

“Technology has connected the world in ways we have not seen before,” Peters said. “While music and film from Africa have gone global, fashion has lagged because there was no seamless system for people abroad to access African designs. Stitches Africa is changing that.”

Peters explained that the platform combines African craftsmanship with AI-driven body measurement technology, allowing customers to generate accurate digital measurements for bespoke tailoring without needing physical fittings.

“We’re bringing a platform that gives the same convenience global consumers are used to, pressing their phone, shopping, and having items delivered, just like Amazon, but for African fashion,” he said. “With Stitches Africa, tailors and designers in Nigeria can now receive orders from anywhere in the world and earn in dollars.”

Highlighting the platform’s impact on diaspora communities, he added: “Africans in the diaspora want to connect with home. With Stitches Africa, they can do that wherever they are. Soon, just as African music fills global airwaves, African fashion will grace global wardrobes.”

The platform’s financing deal, according to a joint statement, represents strong investor confidence in Africa’s creative economy. JF Advisory Group will serve as lead investor, mobilising additional institutional partners to support long-term expansion, while Cedrus Trustees Limited will oversee governance and transparency.

Ntishorkara Monkom, head of Legal at Stitches Africa, said the investment will “empower creators, strengthen value chains, and connect African creativity to global markets.”

Peters also emphasized that Stitches Africa is not only about connecting markets but also about improving industry standards and efficiency through technology.

He further outlined the platform’s commitment to supporting tailors with access to financing, training, and logistics to meet global demand.

“With this opportunity to earn in dollars, African tailors can now afford better fabrics and compete globally. We’re not just refining fashion, we’re refining our process, our economy, and our pride,” he said.

Source: BusinessDay